{"id":175496,"date":"2026-02-13T14:40:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T11:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/175496\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"poland-arrests-eight-suspects-in-air-smuggling-case","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/175496\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland arrests eight suspects in air smuggling case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Polish Border Guard)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

February 13, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>The Podlasie Border Guard Unit arrested eight people for allegedly smuggling cigarettes from Belarus by weather balloons, the Polish Border Guard reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four are Polish nationals aged between 22 and 44, while the four are Lithuanians in their 30s. They may face up to three years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four Lithuanians and one Pole have been placed in custody for three months, while the others are under police supervision and are barred from leaving the country as a preventive measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the start of 2026, the estimated value of cigarettes illegally transported from Belarus into Poland by air has reached $784,000. Authorities arrested 16 suspects in connection with the air smuggling case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since late January, Poland has reported violations of its airspace from the Belarusian direction on at least six occasions. All incidents involved weather balloons that smugglers use to transport cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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